Flat solar air heater collector with phase change materials for domestic purposes in Iraqi climate

Abstract

In this study, a solar air heater was built and flat in shape, one with a black plate to gain heat and the other was placed by a tank under this plate containing paraffin wax to increase thermal storage. Energy and exergy for air heater were also analyzed. The performance of heat air heaters was analyzed by measuring various variables such as the intensity of solar radiation, the ambient temperature, the temperature of the air inside and out of the heater, and thermal efficiency. The maximum thermal efficiency of solar heater with PCM is 16.3% compared to normal heater which was 12.4%. The addition of paraffin wax to the air heater caused an increase in the duration of air heating. The maximum exergy effectiveness of a flat solar air heater collector with heat storage materials (PCM) is 0.7%.